To
engage the rattle tilt the bait of the tail up with the belly still facing up.
Rotate the bait to an upright position and you can determine if the rattle is
engaged or turned off simply by shaking the lure. The audible rattle is good in
conditions where the water is more stained or you simply need more commotion to
incite strikes.

The thinner bill was easy to cut
through

When switching the rattle to the off position lock
the rattle in place by holding the belly of the lure and tapping the lip on a
hard firm surface. It all sounds rather complicated but a couple tries and the
entire process becomes second nature.

A look at all the components that
make up the Switchback Shad

Cutting this lure open was relatively easy and
underneath the outer plastic shell the entire system is visible. Inside the lure
are two steel bearings, the larger one is isolated in the front of the lure and
serves as a weight while the smaller one acts as the rattle.

The rattle resides in a plastic track which is
shaped like a horseshoe. On one end is a large cavity which allows the rattle to
move back and forth. On the other end is an area that holds the rattle securely
in the off position.

A closer look shows both ends of
the system

The system depends on gravity to move the rattle
bearing, that is why it is necessary to hold lure upside down (belly up) when
tapping the bait to dislodge the rattle.

A larger bearing acts as weight
for the lure

The Switchback's rattle system is simple yet quite
ingenious as it is easy to learn and gives anglers the ability to modify their
lure on the fly to adjust conditions. No need to change out lures and retie if a
more subtle presentation is required. The single rattle doesn't put out a whole
lot of noise but the side to side movement is enough to put out a perceptible
"click-click" during retrieves.

Though the switchback system is
the star of this lure this Bomber also features a quality finish that is able to
resist plenty of abrasion

Even though the lure's exterior plastic shell was
not as thick as some competing crankbaits we found the bait reasonably durable.
The lure's finish also held up well to abrasion, and like other Bomber lures
these baits are very reasonably priced and retail for only $5.99 each. If your
looking to "switch" it up the next time you go cranking then this particular Fat
Free Shad has your name all over it.